WO2007072234A1

WO2007072234A1 - Display device having an extendable flexible screen rollable around a batter

Info

Publication number: WO2007072234A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/051932
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Hamers; Dave Bemelmans
Original assignee: Polymer Vision Limited
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2006-06-15
Publication date: 2007-06-28

Abstract

A display device (10) is disclosed including a flexible (matrix) display screen (12) arranged to be rolled up inside a housing (90) when not used and unrolled for use and a display controlled (driver) (16) and a battery (14) providing power to the display screen and the display driver. In one configuration, the flexible display screen is rolled directly around the battery without an intervening tube (80) , the battery thus acting a roller. The length of the battery (18) may match the width of the screen (22) or one or two extensions (70) may be attached to one or both sides of the battery to make up for the difference in size between the battery and the display width and to facilitate rotation. In a second configuration, the flexible display screen is rolled onto an intervening tube (80) containing the driver and the battery, both tube and battery rotating together to act as a roller.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING AN EXTENDABLE FLEXIBLE SCREEN ROLLABLE AROUND A BATTERY

The present invention relates to display devices with flexible extendable screens including a battery. 5

As known, modern technologies allow to substantially minimize the physical size of computers, cell phones, and other personal and mobile communication means, thus providing significant convenience to the user. This strong trend toward miniaturization is however restricted by user preferences for relatively large interfaces, specifically to the 10 display screen that should have an ergonomically acceptable size. The prior art provides several solutions to the problem, mainly in different forms of flexible screens capable to be rolled into a compact form while not in use, and unrolled into an extended form to display information. For instance, WO 2004/001704 Al, WO 2004/031927 A2, WO 2004/053818 Al, WO 2004/047059 Al, and US 2005/0041012 Al disclose similar devices; each of 15 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such reliable devices commonly use an elongated rotatable tube, which the screen is rolled over or around the tube. Due to its cylindrical shape, the tube functions as a means to achieve the compact form of a roll or cylinder when the display is not used.

In addition to compactness, the tube also provides a predetermined structural 20 rigidity to allow a smooth rolling and unrolling, and to prevent rumpling of the screen's fabric. In other words, the tube also functions as a rigid pivot for the rolling of the screen. For a battery-powered device, the battery is often disposed inside the tube to more efficiently use the volume of the device. Such devices are disclosed particularly in the aforementioned US 2005/0041012 Al, as well as in US 2002/0196205 Al and WO

25 01/50232, each of which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In those constructions, the tube is rigid to provide structural support and has a diameter greater than the battery's diameter to accommodate the battery. For example, the display device according to WO 2001/50232 includes a removable battery inserted into a cross-sectionally hexagonal printed circuit board (PCB) mounted inside of a stick-shaped housing (shown on

30 FIGs 2-3 of WO 2001/50232). A motor mounted at the end of the housing is coupled to the material of a flexible screen capable to be rolled around the PCB. Therefore, the description and drawings suggest that the battery inserted in the hexagonal PCT performs nothing more than its usual function of supplying electrical power to the device and does not rotate; it is the tube that houses that battery that rotates with rolling and unrolling of the screen. In conventional roller displays, the display is rolled over a tube which rotates, while the battery is inside the tube and does not rotate.

To further miniaturize and reduce the volume, a display device comprises a reliable display material which is directly rolled around the battery itself. The battery provides the pivot function and rotates thus allowing the screen to be unrolled and extend away from the battery, and to be rolled back around the battery. The display material is configured to display images controlled by a controller. The battery provides power to the display material, controller and other circuit elements including, if desired, providing power to further devices connected to the display, such as a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a laptop for example.

The battery may have a form-factor that substantially matches the form-factor of the display material, e.g. the battery length substantially matches a dimension (e.g., width) of the display material. The battery form-factor may include ends that are configured to rotatebly be attached to a display handle or housing. Alternatively, one or two short extensions may be fixedly attached (e.g. glued or magnetically coupled) to one or both ends of the battery where the short extensions are rotatebly attached to the display handle for rotating with the battery when the screen material is rolled or unrolled. If the battery is shorter than the display material, then the one or two extensions may be long enough so that the length of the battery and extension(s) substantially matches a dimension of the display material. Illustratively, the battery is cylindrical and the one or more extensions facilitate rotational movement of the battery. In another embodiment, a tube is provided that receives the controller and battery, as well as any extensions if present, where the display material is rolled around the tube. The battery is fixedly attached, e.g., glued directly to, or tightly held by the tube. Alternatively or in additions, extensions such as extension rod may be fixedly attached to the battery and tube ends. Thus, both the tube and battery rotate when the display material is rolled into or unrolled out of the display device. Illustratively, the tube is cylindrical and has a tube length that substantially matches a dimension of the display material. Such embodiments, particularly the one without the tube, increase the energy storage per volume and per weight of the display device, and result in a lighter and smaller device or a device with longer battery life.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like elements, and in which:

FIG 1 shows a display device according to one embodiment;

FIG 2 shows s a three dimensional view of the display device of FIG 1;

FIG 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG 2 where a display material is rolled directly around a battery;

FIG 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG 2 having a cylindrical tube for receiving a battery;

FIG 5 shows a cross-sectional frontal view of another embodiment of the display device; and FIGs 6-7 include three dimensional views of the display device showing an extendable flexible circuit board.

The following description of certain exemplary embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of invention, its application, or uses. FIG 1 shows a display device 10 having a display material 12 configured to display images and to be rolled and unrolled directly around a battery 14. A controller 16 is configured to control display of the images. Of course, other elements may be present as is well known in the art, such as circuit board(s,) horizontal and vertical scanning controllers, mechanical and electrical connectors, socket and pin connections etc. The battery 14 provides power to the display material 12, the controller 16 and other circuit elements.

The battery 14 itself rotates when the display material 12 is rolled into or unrolled out of display device 10. To minimize the size of the display device 10, the battery 14 may have a form- factor that substantially matches that of the display material 12. Of course, the size, e.g., length 18 of the battery 14 may be any desired size. For example, the battery length 18, alone or together with the length of any extension(s) 70 shown in FIG 3, extension rod(s) when present, and/or with the controller length 20, substantially matches a dimension (e.g., width 22) of the display material 12. For example, the length 18 of the battery 14, with or without the length 20 of a housing which may include the controller 16 (and other circuit elements as well as buttons/keys or other user interfaces thereon,) is substantially at least the same or greater than the width 22 of the display material 12. Illustratively, the battery 14 is cylindrical. It may be desirable for the total length of the battery and controller housing to be greater than the width 22 of the display material 12 is order to facilitate handling and control of the display device 10, including providing buttons or keys on the housing part that extends beyond the width 22 of the display material 12. Of course buttons, keys and other user interfaces may also be provided any place along the display handle or housing 90. On the other hand, such total length 18, 20 and display material width 22 may be substantially the same in order to have the widest possible display material 12.

FIG 2 shows a three dimensional view of one end of the display device 10 where electrical connection of the battery 14 is made by a slip ring-brush contacting mechanism comprising brushes 52, 54, and conductive rings 56, 58. The display material 12, controller 16, and other circuit elements in turn receive their power from connections to the brushes 52, 54. The brushes 52, 54 are fixedly attached to the housing 90 and may be constructed from resilient conductive material and are configured to resiliently contact the rings 56, 58. In turn, positive and negative terminals 60, 62 of the battery 14 are connected to the rings 56, 58, respectively, via wires 64, 66, for example. Of course, the rings 56, 58 may be part of a custom-made battery thus eliminating the need for wires 64, 66, and further reducing the size and weight of the display device 10, or providing greater power capacity by having a longer battery extending into what otherwise would have been the space for the wires 64, 66. In one embodiment shown in FIG 3, an extension 70 is fixedly attached, e.g., glued or magnetically attached to one or both ends of the battery 14, where one end is shown in FIG 3. As the battery 14 and extension 70 both rotate with the rolling and unrolling of the display material 12, the wires 64, 66 may be fixedly attached to the rings 56, 58. Alternatively, the wires 64, 66 maintain contact with the rings 56, 58 via a resilient (e.g., spring loaded) mechanism or connectors.

In another embodiment shown in FIG 4, a tube such as a cylindrical tube 80 is provided that receives the battery 14. To reduce size of the display device 10 and increase compactness, the tube diameter is only slightly bigger than the battery diameter to form a tight fitting battery that is held tightly by the tube 80. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG 3, the tube 80 and the tightly held battery 14 both rotate together as one unit with the rolling and unrolling of the display material 12, and thus again the wires 64, 66 may be fixedly attached to the rings 56, 58 which in turn are fixedly attached to, or are part of, the tube 80 (instead of being part of, or being attached, to the extension 70 in the embodiment shown in FIG 3.)

By contrast, in yet another embodiment, the battery 14 does not rotate and only the tube 80 rotates with the rolling and unrolling of the display material 12. In this case, the wires 64, 66 may resiliently contact the rings 56, 58 through a resilient mechanism, such as via resilient arms similar to the brushes 52, 54, or spring loaded units, contacts or connectors for example. Thus, the wires are resiliently held in contact with the rings 56, 58, as the rings 56, 58 rotate along with the tube 80. In this embodiment, the tube 80 itself is rotatebly attached to the display device housing or handle 90, through pivoting pins or tips 92 which may be spring loaded to facilitate the rolling and unrolling of the display material 12, somewhat similar to spring loaded mechanism used in roll-up window shades, for example. Illustratively, the pivoting pins are each received by a corresponding recess or hole in the device housing or handle 90. Of course, it is understood that any other rolling/unrolling mechanisms may be used. Instead of being part of the tube 80, the pivoting pins 92 may be part of the extensions 70 attached to the battery ends in the embodiments shown in FIG 3, or even part of a custom made battery having a desired form-factor, where there is no tube 80 and the display material 12 is directly rolled around the battery 14.

Other spring loaded arrangement may be used, such as shown in FIG 5, where a spring loaded mechanism 100 is included in the display device housing 90 that allows resilient rotation of the tube 80 when the display material 12 is rolled and unrolled. Of course, in the embodiment where there is no tube 80, and the display material 12 is rolled directly around the battery 14, then the spring loaded mechanism 100 allows resilient rotation of the battery 14. As described, the battery 14 may be tightly held by the tube 80 and rotate therewith.

Alternatively, the battery 14 may be fixedly held in the tube which has a larger diameter so as not to tightly hold the battery. In this case, the battery 14 is fixed in place and does not rotate with the tube 14. If desired, means may be included between the battery 14 and tube 80 such as ball bearings 105 to facilitate rotation of the tube 80 while the battery 14 is not rotating. Of course, instead of or in addition to ball bearings 105, the tube 80 and battery 14 may have proper diameters and surfaces to be configured for slidable rotation of the tube 80 around the battery 14, where lubrication may be provided between the tube 80 and battery 14 as desired, or the tube and battery surfaces include coatings that reduce friction and allow for rotation of the tube 80, while the battery 14 is fixed and does not rotate.

The spring loaded mechanism 100 actuates the rotation of tube 80, similar to the spiral spring mechanism with a unidirectional clutch described in US 2002/0196205 Al , or another one described in WO 2004/001704 Al. In this embodiment, the mechanism 100 is mounted in the housing 90 and is connected to the outer surface of the tube 80. Control means may include a button or the like to release the display material 12, disengaging it from the spring loaded mechanism 100 to unroll the display material 12 and/or to roll it back over the tube 90 (or over the battery 14 in the embodiment without the tube 90).

Power and communication lines interconnect various elements of the display device 10. Such lines may include printed conducting lines arranged on the inner surface of tube 80 and connected through spring loaded mechanism 100 (which may include a plurality of spiral springs) to circuitry in the controller 16, which may be connected via connectors 105 to the battery 14. Image signals for display may be communicated from the free edge of the display material 12 that may be connected to a handle or slat 150 that includes pins 154 and/or sockets 156, shown in FIG 1, for interfacing with cell phones, PDAs or laptops for example, a described in US 2002/0196205 Al. As shown in FIG 1, data lines 158, which may also include power lines, may be provided behind the display material 12 between the display housing and the end slat 150 for interconnecting various circuit elements and the battery to the additional devices such as cell phones, PDAs or laptops for example. FIGs 6 and 7 illustrate an extendable flexible circuit board 200 which may be used with any of the embodiments. The flexible circuit board 200 serves to make electrical connection between the rotating part of the display, e.g., the battery 14 and the fixed part. As the rotating part turns, the flexible circuit board 200 is long enough to flexibly twist around itself several turns without being substantially stressed. That is, the flexible circuit board 200 is configured to twist with the turning of the battery without any damage and thus still maintain electrical connection with the battery 14 for providing power to circuit elements on the flexible circuit board 200, or to other elements or devices connected to the circuit board 200 including, for example, the display material 12 or external devices connected thereto .

In addition to power lines, the circuit board 200 may also be configured to have signal lines to provide various signals, and supply connections, such as the battery connection or display driver signal connections. For example, the flexible circuit board 200 is configured to have additional wiring to be connected to the pins 154 and/or sockets 156 arranged on the slat or handle 150 (FIG 1) on the free edge of the display material 12, through data or signal lines 158 shown in FIG 1, for example. In addition to data lines for communicating with external devices connected to the display device 10 such as cell phones and PDAs, the flexible circuit board 200 may also provide a power path for providing power to the display device 10 from an external source, as well as for charging the battery 14, for example.

User interfaces such as keys and buttons may be located on the housing of the controller 20 (FIG 1) and/or the housing or handle 90 (FIG 2) of the display device 10, for example, as disclosed in WO 01/50232. Various user interfaces and input resources to control the display can be used as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/557,275, International Application Number IB2005/051024, (Attorney docket Number US040018) assigned to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Various display material with or without protective layers may be used, as disclosed in WO 2004/047059, WO 2004/001704, WO 2004/031927 and WO 2004/053818 which also disclose various control means, rolling mechanisms, as well as interfaces for control and connection, such as via pins, to further devices to add or extend a display such as cell phone, PDAs, laptops etc. The display housing 90 and/or the slat 150 at the end of the display material 12 may have interfaces for attachment to such further external devices.

For example, various arrangements are described in WO 2004/001704 Al, WO 2004/031927 A2, and WO 2004/053818 Al, wherein push buttons or keys and other control means are mounted on the housing, or on an additional slat is provided on the opposite side of the display material, or on the further external devices such as on the mobile phone or PDA itself for controlling the reliable display 10. The display controls can also be provided in the form of a touch sensitive screen disclosed in WO 2004/053818 Al. The display device may include a conventional display matrix, communication and power supply lines embedded in the display material 12. The display material 12 may optionally be made with spacer elements disclosed in WO 2004/047059 to prevent damage of the flexible display. A protective backing layer may also include slats to increase rigidity, as disclosed in US 2005/0041012, which also discloses roller mechanisms.

Finally, the above-discussion is intended to be merely illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present invention has been described in particular detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, it should also be appreciated that numerous modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader and intended spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that: a) the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or acts than those listed in a given claim; b) the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements;) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope; c) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope; d) several "means" may be represented by the same item or hardware or software implemented structure or function; and e) each of the disclosed elements may be comprised of hardware portions (e.g., discrete electronic circuitry), software portions (e.g., computer programming), or any combination thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1. A display device comprising: a display material configured to display images and to be rolled and unrolled; a controller configured to control display of said images; and a battery configured to provide power to said display material and said controller; wherein said display material is configured to be rolled directly around said battery.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said battery is configured to rotate when said display material is rolled into said display device or unrolled out of said display device.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein said battery has a battery form-factor that substantially matches a display form-factor of said display material.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein said battery is cylindrical and has a battery length that substantially matches a dimension of said display material.

5. The display device of claim 1, further comprising at least one extension mechanically coupled to said battery, so that a length of said battery and said at least one extension substantially matches a dimension of said display material.

6. The display device of claim 1, further comprising at least one extension mechanically coupled to said battery and configured to allow rotational movement of said battery.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein said battery is configured to provide power via at least one of slider contact, and a flexible circuit board.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein said battery is configured to contact said display material via a flexible circuit board.

9. The display device of claim 1, further comprising at least one data line connecting said controller to at least one of a pin and a socket located on a handle of said display device.

10. The display device of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said pin and said socket is configured for mating with a further device including at least one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile computer.

11. A display device comprising: a display material configured to display images and to be rolled and unrolled; a controller configured to control display of said images; a battery configured to provide power to said display material and said controller; and a tube configured to receive said controller and said battery, wherein said display material is configured to be rolled directly around said tube; said tube and said battery being configured to rotate when said display material is rolled into said display device or unrolled out of said display device.

12. The display device of claim 11 , wherein said battery is attached to said tube.

13. The display device of claim 11 , wherein said tube is cylindrical and has a tube length that substantially matches a dimension of said display material.

14. The display device of claim 11, wherein said battery is configured to provide power via at least one of slider contact, and a flexible circuit board.

15. The display device of claim 11, wherein said battery is configured to contact said display material via a flexible circuit board.

16. The display device of claim 11 , further comprising at least one data line connecting said controller to at least one of a pin and a socket located on a handle of said display device.

17. The display device of claim 11 , wherein said at least one of said pin and said socket is configured for mating with a further device including at least one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile computer.